City’s bicycle-sharing project gathers pace

Sandeep Rana

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 21

With technical evaluation of Smart Bikes firm started, Chandigarh has inched closer to operating India’s first largest bicycle sharing project in which 5,000 cycles, including 1,250 e-bikes, will run on city roads.

Smart Bikes, which is already running the project in Delhi, is the only firm that participated in the technical bid. Egis International, the project management consultants (PMC) for Chandigarh Smart City, is evaluating the technical bid. After this, the financial bid will be opened.

A total of 617 docket stations have been identified for the bicycle sharing project. A maximum of 14 sites have been earmarked in various parts of Sector 17. In almost all major points of the city, there will be docket points.

Railway station, bus stands, markets, Panjab University, PGI, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden and other places will have these docket centres. For bicycle, 50 paise per minute will be charged, while for e-bikes, the cost will be 75 paise/minute. It is expected that all bicycles will be converted into e-bikes in future. 

One will be able to open the lock of the bicycle/e-bike by scanning the vehicle through a mobile app. It will generate and send an OTP on the phone. After filling the OTP, the payment will be deducted automatically once the rider leaves the cycle at the station after the ride. 

“Normally, such personal cycles get stolen if parked outside. However, there will be no fear of theft now. Cycle enthusiasts, travellers and students will be using it the most,” said an official.

NP Sharma, general manager, Chandigarh Smart City Limited, said, “It’s going to be the country’s first largest bicycle sharing project. Other cities are running it, but they are not operating 5,000 bicycles. Technical evaluation of Smart Bikes by EGIS is in process. Soon, financial bid will be opened.”

Going green

For bicycle, 50 paise per minute will be charged, while for e-bikes, the cost will be 75 paise/minute. It is expected that all bicycles will be converted into e-bikes in future. One will be able to open the lock of the bicycle/e-bike by scanning the vehicle through a mobile app.